Cesare’s expression twisted slightly. It was completely different from what he had been thinking.

“Is there nothing else? Like Marian secretly going out.”

“That’s impossible. According to Liebe, Her Highness Princess Marian doesn’t come out once she enters her room. She says she doesn’t even know what she does in her room all day. When she secretly peeked in, she was just lying in bed doing nothing……”

Cesare laughed awkwardly.

‘Am I wrong? Was it just my imagination? Ellie and Marian seem to have a similar atmosphere.’

Either that, or the head of the Lucerta merchant guild knew nothing, or he was hiding it. But the guild master’s expression was full of sincerity.

Cesare clicked his tongue slightly.

In the end, he gained nothing from the head of the Lucerta merchant guild either.

“I see…… Thank you for telling me. As you know, with the wedding approaching, I have a lot on my mind. You’ve been a great help. However, this conversation……”

“Will remain confidential.”

The head of the Lucerta merchant guild answered smoothly. Neither of them noticed each other’s different dreams. Thanks to this, Marian could hide her identity a bit longer, and Cesare could move further away from finding Ellie.

It was the result of human selfishness and greed.

**

Meanwhile, Liebe in the west.

Four days had already passed since they departed. After traveling day and night without rest, they had just crossed the western gate. The great lord of the west, Marquis Katra, welcomed the Lucerta merchant guild with pleasure. Someone sent directly by Marquis Katra came to greet Liebe’s group.

The person who identified himself as the head butler of the Katra Castle kindly said to Liebe,

“The Marquis has instructed me to provide rooms for the people of Lucerta. Let’s go to the castle.”

“I’m truly grateful for the Marquis’s consideration. However, there’s somewhere I need to visit first. I’d like to stop by the Lucerta merchant guild at the Katra branch first. Would that be alright?”

“Oh! I didn’t think of that. I will inform the Marquis accordingly, Miss Liebe.”

The head butler smiled brightly.

In fact, the head butler’s purpose wasn’t to take Liebe to Katra Castle right away. He came out because he heard that the youngest daughter of the Lucerta merchant guild was coming in person. And also to check the size of the Lucerta merchant guild’s entourage.

‘Tsk. They said she was an illegitimate child, and the procession isn’t that grand.’

Still, Lucerta was Lucerta. Everything Liebe had and wore was of the highest quality. Moreover, the head of the Lucerta merchant guild had personally sent a letter to the head of the Katra family, so there must be a purpose for coming all this way.

“Then I’ll go to the castle first and wait.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After watching the head butler leave with a regretful face, Liebe quietly gave an order.

“Go to Lucerta right away.”

“Yes, Miss Liebe.”

Liebe checked the luggage cart following behind once more. Princess Helena, Jeremy, and even the Crown Prince’s children.

At first, the children’s resistance was intense.

‘I’ll tell our father everything! You’ll all be surprised when you find out who our father is!’

‘Unless you all want to die, take us back right now!’

Perhaps because they took after Benjamin, their personalities were also bold. She had a hard time soothing and calming the children. Still, maybe because they were members of the imperial family, they were quick to grasp reality. After realizing they couldn’t go back no matter how much they screamed and stomped their feet, they had been behaving well.

The fortunate thing was that Liebe had chosen those who would accompany this journey.

“Sigh.”

Liebe brushed back her hair.

‘No matter what, we can’t silence everyone.’

Liebe examined those who came with her with sharp eyes. She had assembled a minimal crew and hired tight-lipped mercenaries. Liebe licked her lips.

Another fortunate thing was that the cunning children hadn’t revealed their identities.

‘I need to send them away quickly.’

Pursuers might catch the scent and chase after them.

She needed to send them away before reaching Lucerta. Liebe prepared a new hired carriage and moved the children into it. Thanks to Jeremy and Helena being disguised as workers, they didn’t stand out.

Liebe handed Helena a money pouch she had prepared in advance.

“This should be enough as settlement funds.”

“……Thank you.”

Helena sobbed. She never thought such a day would really come.

“Thanks to you, we safely……”

“Let’s save those words for later. You need to leave right away now. If you need to contact me, find Liebe of Lucerta. Leave a message saying ‘bluebird’ and I’ll check it immediately.”

“……Thank you.”

Helena smiled faintly.

Liebe saw them off. Even Liebe didn’t know where Helena and Jeremy were taking the children. She deliberately didn’t ask. Liebe watched them for a moment before turning away.

With this, the first mission was accomplished.

And now the second mission remained. Liebe swallowed her tension and stared at Katra Castle. Abel’s cold face seemed to be projected over the castle.

‘Damn human.’

Liebe ground her teeth.

Thinking of that man comfortably staying by Marian’s side made her anger surge.

‘Just wait.’

**

Marian decided to stay only within the palace and remain secluded until the main tournament. It was her judgment that there was nothing good about moving around in an already tumultuous situation.

Abel agreed with that.

There was nothing good about wandering around when Cesare was desperate to attach someone to Abel. Besides, wasn’t Marian also under Cesare’s suspicion?

The fact that Cesare had begun to suspect meant that the imperial family was also suspicious.

So they locked the doors tight, with the secretly entered guests joining in.

Thanks to this, situations where Marian and Abel were left alone often occurred.

Like now.

“Hmm, checkmate.”

Marian rolled her eyes and moved Abel’s piece with her slender finger. Abel’s face was smooth, unconcerned despite his loss.

He smiled.

“What shall we do? Come to think of it, we haven’t decided what penalty the loser should perform.”

Marian awkwardly nodded.

Things she hadn’t been conscious of before kept catching her eye—Abel’s lips, his smiling eyes, or his broad shoulders, long manly hands, thick thighs, and flat stomach.

Marian, who had been looking him up and down, stopped abruptly.

‘I must be crazy. What are you thinking right now, Marian? What on earth are you looking at!’

Marian regained propriety in her eyes.

She quickly raised her head. She didn’t want to be caught, but Abel seemed to have already noticed what Marian was thinking. He asked with a mischievous smile.

“Shall I take it off?”

“Yes. Yes? What?”

Marian stammered.

“As a penalty, I mean. How about the loser takes off one piece of clothing at a time?”

Marian’s lips trembled.

“I, I think I misheard you, Abel. What did you say?”

Abel mercifully repeated once more. Clearly and distinctly so she couldn’t possibly mishear.

“Let’s have the loser take off one item at a time.”

This time it wasn’t a question but a confirmation. Abel took off his loose shirt and threw it aside.

“Now, the next round.”

Marian placed her piece with trembling hands. Her mind was scattered, and she didn’t even know what she was doing. Her mind was in a fog.

Before she knew it, Abel had even taken off his pants and was wearing only his underwear.

Marian closed her eyes tightly and then opened them.

In front of Marian, who was perfectly dressed, Abel had taken off everything including his shoes……

‘Is, isn’t he embarrassed!’

Of course, she had been desperately clinging on with the determination not to take off her clothes. That aside, strangely, Abel made small mistakes at crucial moments. Marian had taken advantage of those opportunities, but…… now she thought perhaps she should lose. He only had his underwear left……

‘What are you thinking, Marian? You should just stop!’

Marian shook her head vigorously.

“Um, Abel.”

“Yes?”

Abel narrowed his eyes as he smiled. His sunset-colored eyes curved like a bow and gleamed. Something Marian couldn’t understand swirled within them.

“Cl-clothes, clothes, I mean, how about you put them back on?”

Marian stammered. After barely finishing her sentence, she coughed frantically. While looking at Marian who couldn’t even meet his eyes, Abel asked leisurely.

“Why? I’m the one who’s undressed. I don’t understand why you seem more troubled.”

Marian glared at Abel with a red face. Seeing him acting so nonchalantly reminded her of the previous night. The night when he didn’t undress but Marian did. The rapid breaths they exchanged, the hot body temperature, or the countless indescribable sensations that passed through their touching skin seemed to come alive again.

Marian drew in a breath.

“Abel, you……”

“Checkmate.”

Marian’s eyes widened. Watching those transparent blue lake ripple, Abel let out a laugh. With that face looking like she might cry……

‘I want to make her cry completely.’

Marian wouldn’t know what indecent thoughts Abel was having. But he should back off here. If Marian keeps up with Abel’s pace, she might really break. Even now, doesn’t it feel like she can’t breathe? It was enough to just continuously imprint on her that Abel is a man like this. Even if it wasn’t the right method, it didn’t matter. If the goal could be achieved, the means weren’t that important.

“Done?”

“……Done.”